Due to the time of year, it is important to reiterate the need to restrict golf cars to paths during wet periods. Compacted soils do not allow the proper air and water movement through the profile to allow viable growth. Due to the high amount of traffic on golf course playing surfaces (especially golf cars), compaction can become a serious issue inhibiting the ability to provide quality playing conditions. Along with compaction, the turfgrass cannot recover as quickly as the summer months due to shorter days and cooler (soil temperatures) weather. It is essential we control the use of golf cars on the playing surfaces during the winter months. As you can see in the picture below, we had someone that did not adhere to the cart path only needs.
We take soil tilth very seriously and unfortunately; we must make decisions that are not always popular. It is essential we manage cart usage during the winter months. We have a very specific protocol in place based on the percentage of moisture in the ground off Field Capacity that we will continue to use. Field capacity means soil is 100 percent full of moisture capacity.
Our rain total for season thru January are as follows:
- September- .1 inches.
- October – 1.97 inches.
- November – 4.12 inches.
- December – 7.31 inches.
- January 26 to date – 1.08 inches
- Total for season to date: 14.2 inches.
To date the following has been completed on the irrigation renovation project:
- Main lines installation is finished.
- Pump station wet well and concrete pad installed.
- Pump station intake line installed.
- Installed all three communication hubs. They are located at #4 bathroom, behind #6 green, and left of #9 near the parking lot.
- Lateral pipe and irrigation rotors installed on #4, #5, #6, #7, #12, and #13 have been installed.
- Installation of infrastructure at Arnold well to divert the water to new irrigation pond installed.
- Installation of new line to access Valley of The Moon Water 90 percent installed.
- New valves installed at #5 well delivery infrastructure installed.
As you can see, a lot was accomplished on the project before the holidays arrived. Our current schedule to return to installing lateral line and irrigation rotors is Monday January 12th weather depending. Hopefully everyone had a great holiday season. Please feel free to wave me down or send me a email if you have any questions about the project or maintenance in general.
Yours in turf,
Stacy L. Wallace, Golf Course Superintendent
Sonoma Agronomy 